Religion is a powerful ally and fierce adversary.
Politicians of various beliefs and ideologies visit the Vatican before and after the elections, there must be a reason.
After gaining power, the far-right Milei went from considering the Pope “the evil one on Earth” to seeing him as “the most important in all of Argentina.”
Without reaching those ridiculous things, far from it, the Pontiff has been a protagonist in the last hours in Mexico, with the country immersed in the presidential campaign.
First, the right-wing candidate, Xóchitl Gálvez, arrived in Rome, wearing a dark huipil as protocol dictates.
Hours later, without knowing exactly how many, the presidential candidate of the left, Claudia Sheinbaum, landed at the private residence of Santa Marta.
And the two have published their photo with Bergoglio.
Of the 90 million Catholics over five years old who exist in Mexico, a good handful will go to the polls on June 2.
The meeting with Francisco was like one of those old door comedies, it is not known how one entered or where the other came out.
The silences and surprises have kept the media busy with detective tasks.
Gálvez announced in a conference that he would go to Spain last weekend, as he did, but he said nothing about him going to the Vatican, where he met with the Pontiff privately.
He assured that on Tuesday he would already be in Mexico, but Rome will forgive that little lie.
When the matter only reached the press, Sheinbaum's team sounded the alarm: the boss was also visiting Santa Marta.
Likewise in this case, the meeting was closed privately, directly with the Pope, who usually does these things through the mediation of acquaintances.
Since both are candidates, The Vatican acted as referee to publish the photos.
In one, the PAN candidate appears next to Francisco, both facing each other, in a formal shot.
In the other, Sheinbaum and the Pontiff touch hands more warmly.
The Pope is not wearing a skullcap and despite the candidate's tailored suit, the shot becomes closer, everyday, domestic.
It is never easy to guess who the votes of the electorate that declare themselves Catholic are for.
At first glance, it would be said that the left is less confessional than the right, but in Mexico that is saying a lot, to begin with because ideologies are diffuse and devotion to the Virgin of Guadalupe, for example, is found in any seat in Congress. .
What is not debatable is the enormous power that religions play in these times in the political processes of Latin America, whether Catholic, evangelical or others.
They are decisive in winning the elections, as has been seen in several countries, and the candidates do not hesitate to approach the representatives of the gods to reach the presidential seat.
Last September, already on campaign duty, Claudia Sheinbaum, who has been disqualified by her adversaries arguing that she is Jewish, met with leaders of several confessions, representing up to 30,000 temples, all men, except for her, in the photo.
Xóchitl Gálvez did the same on December 12, mixing among the human tide that came to Mexico to pay honors to the Guadalupana.
Like the Stations of the Cross, electoral campaigns have their seasons: the visit to Rome has already been completed for the two candidates.
The sense of humor in Mexico could be seen in memes and comments: when would the third candidate in the running, the Emecista Jorge Álvarez Máynez, come to Rome?
Mexico was a non-denominational country before France was and the public powers followed that precept, until a few decades ago, when obligation and devotion came together again.
The current president has been one of those who has most raised the figure of Jesus Christ and that of the Virgin of Guadalupe in his public interventions.
His idea of the figure of Jesus is the same that the left has had for decades, that of a good man attached to the poor and to earthly justice rather than divine justice.
It is unknown in detail what his successor will be.
Sheinbaum has expressed his “deep admiration for the humanist thought” of Francisco, resorting to one of the symbols of the movement he presides over, humanism.
And he has called him “one of the greatest global leaders and thinkers of recent times.”
Regarding his visit, he said: “It was an exceptional hour that I will never forget, he gave me great life advice.”
For his part, Gálvez has separated the papal visit from any electoralism by pointing out that his faith and religiosity "are above any political opportunity."
In fact, the candidate has never rejected the fact that she is a woman of faith, she is a great believer in the Virgin of Guadalupe, she confessed in an interview with this newspaper.
But she obtained from the Pope a phrase that is consistent with the image that she projects as a candidate, that of a person with arrests: "I am glad that you have the courage that you have," they say that Francis told her before wishing her success in her career. .
Mexican citizens will have to choose between both women for their next president, both already blessed in their role by the highest Catholic leader.
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